Apparatus for sealing containers



Dec- 1946- H. E. STOVER APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR Harry E Sfover BYW I a i a A TTORNE Y5 Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,412,924 APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Harry E. Stover, Leonia, N. J assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application August 2, 1940, Serial No.

349,655. Divided and this application April 17, 1943, Serial No. 483,444

1 Claim. (Cl. 22680) My invention relates to an apparatus for sealing containers. It has to do, more particularly, with an apparatus for applying closures to containers, such as food containers and including jars, bottles, cans, et cetera, and sealing them on the containers and for producing a partial vacuum in the upper ends of the containers.

Thi application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 349,655, .filed August 2, 1940, and which issued as Patent No. 2,321,779 on June 15, 1943.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a sealing machine including a movable sealing unit. wherein novel control means is provided for actuating said unit,said control means being positive and eificient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide control means for actuating the sealing unit which is of such a nature that it will be actuated whenever a container with a cap thereon is moved into association with the sealing unit.

My invention is embodied in an apparatus for applying closures to and sealing them on various containers such as jars, bottles, cans, et cetera. The apparatus is in the form of a compact structure which may be disposed in superimposed relationship to a continuously moving conveyer upon which the filled containers are placed at random. The conveyer preferably has means associated therewith for centering and maintaining the containers centered on this conveyer.

The apparatus may include a cap-feeding and applying unit, where caps or other closures are loosely positioned on the upper ends of the containers moved into association therewith by the conveyer, Directly adjacent the cap-feeding and applying unit, a sealing head is provided. The conveyer moves the containers, with caps loosely applied thereto, into association with this sealing head. The sealing head is spaced Slightly above the upper ends of the containers and a main fluid-actuated unit is associated therewith for forcing it downwardly whenever a container, having a cap properly associated therewith, moves beneath the sealing head, I provide a positive and efficient control arrangement for starting operation of the sealing head at the proper time.

The control arrangement includes a main control valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the fluid-actuated unit which moves the sealing head. It also includes a pilot valve for controlling the operation of the main valve. The pilot valve is actuated by means of a trigger, This trigger is engaged by a ca ona container when the container is moved into sealing position be- 2 neath the sealing head and will, consequently, actuate the sealing head. To return the trigger to its original position, I provide a small fluidactuated unit which is mechanically connected to the trigger and which is actuated by the firstnamed fluid-actuated unit.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view illustrating the sealing head unit and its operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of'the valve which is used for controlling operation of the sealing head, thevalve being shown in its normal position. a

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the valve in its operative position. it This application relates to the control mechanism for actuating the sealing head. This case was co-pending with the application of William D. Bell on Apparatus for sealing containers, Ser. No. 314,299, which recently issued as Patent No. 2,352,763 on July 4,1944. Applicant wishes to direct the attention to this issued patent for a description of the sealing head and conveyer which are adequately described in that patent. It is believed, however, unnecessary to give a complete description of this previously patented machine at this time. The conveyer unit I the cap-feeding and applying unit are clearly described in said patent. The following description is directed to the control mechanism for actuating the sealing head 26.

The actuating mechanism for the sealing head 26 is normally in the condition illustrated in Figure 1. The plunger 40 will be held in its lowermost position by the spring 42. The plunger 21 will be held in its uppermost position by the spring 31. The toggle joint 49 will be in the condition illustrated, that is, with its links at an angle to each other, It will be apparent that if the piston rod 56 is moved to the right (Figure 1),

: the toggle joint 49 will be strai htened out. This will force the plunger 21 downwardly against-the action of spring 3'! and, consequently, will force the sealing head 26 downwardly. 'As soon asthe piston rod 56 moves to the left, the spring 31 will returnmember 26 to its uppermost position. The spring-pressed plunger 48 is provided to limit the downward force exerted on the plunger 2! tea predetermined maximum, so as to prevent injury to the container being sealed. This predetermined maximum is determined by the initial adjustment of the distance between the lower end of collar 39 and the flange 4|, which varies the downward force exerted by the spring 42. When the downward force created by the toggle 49 on the plunger 21 reaches the predetermined maximum, the plunger'48 will be forced upwardly against the resistance of the spring 42. Consequently, the pressure exerted on plunger 21 will not be excessive. It will be apparent that during operation of the toggle joint, the piston rod 56 will move vertically to a limited extent. Adjusting the plunger unit vertically bymeans of the member 39, as previously described, will vary the extent of the downward movement of the plunger 21 and, consequently, of the member26. Thus, the extent of the downward movement ofmember 26 may be readily adjusted,

For controlling movement of the piston rod 56,

I provide the mechanism now to be described. This mechanism comprises a fluid-operated cylinder and piston unit 59. Thus unit 59 includes a housing 5911 which hasa larg cylinder bore 68 formed in its upper portion and a small cylinder bore-BI formedin its lower portion. The bores -6|! and BI arehorizontally disposed and are parallel with each other. The housing 59a ismounted on the upper surface of a plate directly adjacent the housing 23. His provided with a flattened lower surface which rests on the upper surface of a plate. To secure the housing 59a to the housing 23, the-housing '23 is provided with laterally projecting lugs, through which bolts pass. The bolts have theirends threaded into the'housing 59a'and spacers are provided on the bolts. .Atlarge bolt 65 (Figure 1) is passed horizontally'throug-h an upstanding lug 66 on the housing 58a and has its outer end threaded into a boss on the housing portion 23, as at'61. A spacer is provided on the bolt65. Thus, it will be apparent that the housing 59a is held firmly in position.

The bore 68 has a hollow piston 69 .slidably -mounted therein. This cylinder 69 has a member disposedtherewithin which is secured to its end wall by means of bolts 69a. The member ID .hasa reducedextension a which extends to the -.left (Figure 1) through the end of the piston and through a boss 10!) :formed thereon. .This boss 18b will normally contact with the :end of the bore'tfl to keep the piston spacedfrom the head 7 II disposed at thelefthand endof housing 59a.

The portion Illaextends through the head? I 'and :into5ath0using1lawhi0h issecured to the head II.

Acushionmember Nb of rubber surrounds portion 18a and abuts the head I I. A metal'collar 'IIci holds the member' III? in position by contacting with a shoulder "IId formed on the inner surface of housing "Ha. The end of the portion Illa .iszthreadedto receive nuts 1Ie. which may be adjusted to various positions therealong. nuts H e will contact with member II 0 when the piston 69 moves tothe right. They serve as an The adjustable stop for limiting such movement to prevent the links 58 and 52*of the toggle from moving past the axes of plungers' 21 and 40. The

memberllb serves as a cushion to reduce the shock of the impact.

Acap IZ is bolted to the other end of the hous- The imier larger than the piston rod so as to permit lim- ,15 Figure -1.

ited movement of the piston rod therein. A compression spring TI is disposed within the bore 68 in surrounding relationship to the rod 55. One end of the spring bears against the cap l2 and is disposed in a recess I3 formed therein while the opposite end bears against a flanged collar I8, which is formed integral with member I8. It will be apparent that this spring normally tends .to force the piston 69 to the left so that the boss II) Itib contacts with the head II. Consequently,

this will also keep the toggle joint 49 in the condition illustrated in Figure l.

:I preferablyv employ steam as the fluid for movingthe piston '89 from the position indicated in The housing 59a has a steam jacket 80 I formed in lthe wall thereof and extending :completely around the housing. This jacket serves to prevent or decrease condensation of the steam within the housing 59a.

The bore 6| has a piston type valve 32 mounted for axialmovement therein,'as shown best in Figures 1; 2 and 3. This piston valve 82 is adapted to control the supply of steam to and exhaust of steam from the cylinder bore 68. Intermediate .its ends the piston valve 82 is provided with an annular chamber 83' and at its extreme ends the piston valve 82 is provided with projecting portions 84. An 'exhaust'and inlet opening 85 is provided in'thewall of the bore GI intermediate the ends thereof and communicateswith a longitudinal passageway 81. Opening 85 is always in communication with'annular chamber -83. The passageway fil has one end communicating with :an opening 88 which leads into the cylinder bore 50 adjacent the head "I I. The opposite end of the passageway 81 communicates with an opening '89 which leads through the wall of the bore 6| The opening "89 communicates with a longitudinally extending groove 90 formed'in'the periphery of the piston '69. -When the piston 69 is in the position indicated in Figure 8, the opening 82 will not be in communication with a passageway 89a, formed in the 'wall of bore68, but when the piston '69 moves to the position indicated in Figure 3, the groove'90 will be in such a position that it will connect opening '89 to passageway 89a. The outer-end of passageway 89a is uncovered-with the piston"69 as in Figure 2.

'Atspacedpoints in the wall of the bore 6| an inletopening 9| and an outlet opening 9|a are formed. "The inlet opening 9| is connected to an opening '92 leading from the steam jacket 80. The opening 9Ia leads to the atmosphere. With -piston valve 82 in the'position shown in Figure 2, 5 the'annular chamber 83 is in communication with exhaust opening 9|a and piston 82 covers opening 9|. With piston -82 in the position indicated in Figure3, chamber'83 is in communication with inlet opening 9| and exhaust opening am is coveredby'the piston.

'With thepiston 82 in the position indicated in Figure 2, steam will exhaust from the left hand end of the cylinder bore 60, through opening 88, passage 81, opening 85, annular chamber 83, and

exhaust opening 9Ia. The piston 82, when in the position indicated inFigure2, will cover the inlet opening 9| Consequently, steam will not be sup- "plied to the cylinder bore 68. V

For controlling movement of the piston valve 82, I provide a valve mounted in an extension 94 (Figures 2 and 3) of the housing 59a. A cylindrical bore 96 is formed in the main portion of the extension '94. The bore 196 receives a piston 97, which is mounted for axial movement therein.

l i he outer end "of the piston carries "a pair or spaced collars 98, the inner one of which serves to limit inward movement of the piston. The portion of the piston 91 which is disposed in the bore 96 has a large annular chamber 99 formed therein and a small annular chamber I formed therein in axial spaced relationship. A steam passageway I03 connects the steam chamber 89 to the annular chamber-'99 formed in the piston 91. An exhaust passageway I04 connects the left hand end of bore 96 to the-atmosphere. Spaced passageways I05 and I06 communicate with the bore 96 and, when the piston 91is in the position indicated in Figure 2, the end I01 of the piston covers the end of passageway I05 while the end of passageway I06 communicates with the chamber 99 in the piston. These passageways I05 and I06 are connected to a passageway I98 which is connected to the left hand end of the cylinder bore 6|. Axially spaced passageways I09 and H0 communicate with the bore 96 and, when the piston 91 is in the position indicated in Figure 2, the central portion III thereof covers the end of passageway I09 and the passageway IIO communicates with the annular chamber I00 of the piston 91. The passageways I09 and I III are connected to a passageway II2 which is connected to the right hand end of the bore 6I. An exhaust passageway I04a leads from the right hand end of bore 96 to the atmosphere.

It will be apparent that with the piston 91 in the position indicated in Figure 2, steam will flow from the chamber 80, through the passageway I03, through annular chamber 99 of piston 91, through passageways I06 and I08, to the left hand end of the bore BI, and will force the piston 82 to the right. At the same time, any steam in the right hand end of the bore 6I will exhaust through passageway II2, passageway IIO, annular chamber I00 and exhaust passageway I04a. Thus, the inlet opening 9I will be covered by the piston 82, while the exhaust opening 9Ia will be uncovered. Consequently, steam from the left hand end of the cylinder bore 60 will exhaust through the opening 88, passageway 81, opening 85, chamber 83 and exhaust opening 9I a. Thus, the spring 11 will be permitted to return the piston 69 to the position indicated in Figure 2.

However, if the piston 91 is moved to the right,

as indicated in Figure 3, steam will be supplied to the left hand end of the cylinder bore 60 to move the piston 69 to the right. It will be apparent that when the piston 91 is moved to the right, steam will flow from the passageway I03, through the annular chamber 99 in piston 91, through the passageway I09, through passageway II2 (the passageway I I0 having its end closed at this time by the portion I I I of the piston) to the right hand end of the bore 6I, which will cause the piston 82 to move to the left. At the same time, the steam in the left hand end of the bore 6| will exhaust through the passageway I08, through passageway I05 (the end of passageway I06 being closed by the end I01 of piston 91 at this time) through the left hand end of bore 96 and through passageway I04 to the atmosphere. When the piston 82 is moved to the position indicated in Figure 3, the inlet opening 9I is uncovered while the exhaust opening 9 I a. is covered. Consequently,

steam will flow from the chamber 80 through opening 92, through opening 9| into chamber 83, through opening 85, passage 81. and finally through opening 88, into the left hand end of the bore 60. This will force the piston 69 to the right.

When the piston 69 moves to the right sufficiently, the opening 89 communicates with the passageway 89a. This will permit steam to flow from passage 81 into passageway 89a and into the bore 96a which is formed in the upper portion of extension 94. This will force the piston 91a, mounted in bore 96a, from-the position indicated in Figure 3, into the position indicatedin Figure 2.

'Movement of the piston 91a to the right (Figure 2) is adapted to move piston 91 to the left to re- .turn it to its original'position. For this purpose,

a short lever I I5a is provided which has its upper end in engagement with the outer end of piston 9111, as at 9112, and has a yoke I I5b on its lower end which straddles piston 91 between collars 98. The lever I [5a is pivoted to the outer end of a pin II1a (Figure 1) which is mounted in extension 94 for axial adjustment and is held in adjusted position by a set screw which engages a flat portion of the pin to prevent rotating thereof. Thus, when piston 91a is moved to the right, piston 91 will be moved to the left. When piston 91 is moved to the right, piston 91a is moved to the left.

The piston 91 must be moved to the right mechanically by means of a lever II5. This will move the piston 69 to the right, as described above. However, as soon as the piston 69 moves sufficiently the piston 91 will be returned to its original position by steam pressure, as described above. Thus, movement of the piston 91 to the right is controlled mechanically while movement of the piston to the left is accomplished automatically by steam pressure.

For moving the piston 91 to the right, I provide the pivoted lever II5, as previously described. This lever has a yoke portion II6 on its upper end which engages the piston 91 between the collars 98, as shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The lever H5 is pivoted to the bifurcated outer end II1 of a plunger H8. The plunger H8 is disposed for axial movement in a bore I20 formed in the housing extension 94. A compression spring I2I is provided in the bore I20 for normally forcing the plunger II8 to the left. A pin II8a is disposed for axial movement in a tube I I9a disposed in fixed position in a bore H9 in housing portion 59a. One end of pin II8a engages the plunger I I8 while the other end thereof is engaged by the inner end of a screw II8b threaded into a boss II9b formed on the cap 1I. It will be apparent that by rotating member I I 8b, the pivot point for the lever H5 may be adjusted to the right or to the left (Figure 1) The lower end of the lever I I5 is provided with a finger portion I32 which is disposed adjacent the edge of member 26 in alignment with a vertical slot I3I formed therein which is of suflicient width to permit movement of the lever thereinto, if necessary. The finger portion I32 extends downwardly beyond the lower surface of the member 26, when the member 26 is in its uppermost position. Adjustment of the plunger II8 will move the lower end I32 of lever II5 into or out of slot I3I, to properly position it at the point where the edge of the cap will be disposed when it is carried on the head 26 in sealing position. The proper position of finger I32 will vary with variations in diameters of the caps being used.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have embodied novel control mechanism in a machine of the type described which is positive and efficient in operation. This control mechanism is of such a nature that it will be actuated whenever'acontainer with a cap thereon is moved into association with the sealingunit. However, it will notbe actuated if a container without-a, cap moves into association with the sealing unit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

Apparatus of the type described for sealing containers, comprising a support for a container, a sealing member associated with said support, a

fluid-actuated unit for moving said sealing memher, a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to said fluid-actuated unit, a second valve for con- 10 connected to said control member.

HARRY E. STOVER. 

